Controlling apparatus



Sept. I3, 1966 R. s. wams CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 12, 1964 @www NOX Sept. 13, 1966 R. s. WILKS VoNTmLLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1964 INVENTOR. Rober? SW'IRS BY Z M United States Patent O 3,272,078 CGNTRLMNG APPARATUS Robert S. Willis, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Honeywell lne., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 402,999 2 Claims. (Cl. 91-47) lt is an object of the present invention to disclose a pneumatic lamplifying apparatus.

lt is another object of the present invention 1n one embodiment thereof to disclose Va fluid pressure-to-motion amplifying apparatus.

It is still another object of the present invent1on to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned type to ef- -fect a precise repeatable change in an output motion that the aforementioned apparatus applies to an actuated element for each small change in the magnitude of an input pressure that is applied thereto.

lt is another object of the present invention to disclose a pneumatic amplier of the aforementioned type that can be deployed between a varying input pressure and a switch to effect precise switch opening and/ or closing action because of the desirable abnormally low hysteresis or, in other words, low energy transfer loss that is inherent in the amplifier.

It is still another object of 4the present invention to disclose a fluid pressure-'to-motion amplifying apparatus of the aforementioned type which can be adjusted to effect a switching action for a single switch -or for any one of a number of different switches that require different magnitudes of input pressures to effect an opening and closing action.

It is another object of the invention to disclose a modified form of the invention in which the output signal generated by the aforementioned input fluid pressure being fed into the amplifier is used to energize a fluidcontrolled pressure actuating means, for example an alarm, whistle or a fluid-actuated valve, when its magnitude rises above a preselected level.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a sectional View of the aforementioned amplifying apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View showing a plurality of the fluid amplifying units shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a right end View of FIG. 3, and;

FIG. 5 is a view showing another modified form of the aforementioned fluid amplifier.

The controlling apparatus sho-wn in FIG. 1 is comprised of a substantially U-shaped body 12 having a threaded wall portion 14 into which the right end of the threads lo on the external surface of a bleed nozzle 18 is engaged. A lock nut 2li is shown employed to retain the nozzle 18 in a selected fixed position on the threaded wall portion 14 so that movement of a distensible member 22 and its associated plate 24 having a thin layer of an elastomeric material thereon can be moved toward and away from the bleed end 26 of the nozzle 13. A diaphragm is preferably used as the distensible member 22 shown at the left end of FIG. 1 and for the distensible member 26 shown at the right end of this figure although other alternate forms of distensible members such as bellows could be use-d.

3,272,078 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 A suitable number of threaded connecting members between the end plate 28 and the left end of the body 12 and between the end plate 30 and the right end of the body 12 such as the screw threaded members 32, 34 are employed as shown in FIG. 1. These members 32, 34 are positioned in spaced relation with one another adjacent the outer surface of each of the end plates 218, 30 to retain the outer peripheral portion of their associated diaphragms 22 and 26 in sealed fluid-tight contact with the outer end surfaces of body 12.

The end plate 28 has inlet conduit 36 threadedly connected to its wall portion 38. The left end of the conduit 36 is provi-ded with a plurality of wedge-shaped protuberances, for example 40, 42, to accommodate a fiexible conduit, not shown, placed thereon.

An input fiuid control pressure is thus applied in this manner by way of conduit 36 to the chamber space formed by the conduit 22 and a cylindrical portion 44 of the end plate 28.

An increase in the magnitude of the input fluid control pressure against the diaphragm 22 will thus cause the diaphragm 22 to move together with the embossed spring retaining fiapper plate 24 that it is in contact with to the right of the position shown towards the nozzle 26 and against the bias of the counter-biasing effect of coil spring 46.

The right end of the spring 46 is retained in physical engagement with a cylindrical flange portion 48 of a sleeve 50. The sleeve 50, in turn, is shown mounted for slidable longitudinal movement on a nut 52 that, in turn, is th-readedly connected for movement along the external threaded surface 16 of the nozzle 18. A self-lubricated washer 53, such as a washer made of nylon, is employed between the nut "S2 and the sleeve 50. Adjustment of this nut 52 can be acc-omplished by inserting the end of a screwdriver in one of the plurality of slots, for eX- .am-ple slot S4, formed in the outer surface of the nut 52 to rotate same.

It can thus be seen that the rotation of the nut 52 in one direction will increase the preselected force that is -applied t-o the dapper plate 24, diaphragm 22 which must be overcome by the input fluid control pressure in order to move the diaphragm 22 and lapper plate 24 to the right of the position shown towards the nozzle 26.

in a similar, Ibut different, manner it can be seen that rotation of the nut member 52 in the opposite direction will decrease the preselected force that is applied to the flapper plate 24 and diaphragm 22 which must be overcome by the input fluid control pressure, C P., in order to move the diaphragm 22 and fiapper plate 24 to the right of the position shown toward the nozzle 26.

From the aforementioned description, it can be seen that the adjustment of the nut member 52 provides any one of a number of setpoint pressure adjustments for the system below which an applied input fluid control pressure cannot effect a control action .and above which a fluid pressure control action can be effected.

A regulated filtered air supply pressure, F.A.S., is applied from a supply source, not shown, by way of the conduit 5 6 and restricted passageway 5S to the nozzle chamber 60.

When the control pressure, C P., being applied to the left side of the diaphragm 22 exceeds a selected setpoint compression force applied by the spring 46 to the diapper plate 24, the flapper plate 24 will move to the right and toward the nozzle 26. This action cau-ses the pressure in the nozzle chamber and the chamber formed by the diaphragm 26 and a wall portion 62 to be simultaneously increased. When this latter action occurs, the diaphragm 26 will lm-ove the right surface of the diaphragm plate 64 associated therewith to the right to, for example, a dotted-line position shown to effect a depressing movement of the button 26 of the switch 68. When this occurs, the switch 68 will be moved from a contact open position to a contact closed switch position or vice versa depending on how the electrical leads of the particular switch are connected.

The switch 68 can Ibe any one of a number of commercially-available types of switches, but is preferably a miniature button-actuated type.

This switch 68 can be mounted on an extension portion 70 of the end plate 30 by means of threaded screw connections 72, 74. The switch 68, in turn, is provided with a suitable number of terminals to which selected electrical leads 76,'78, 80 can be connected to an electrical circuit in which a pressure-actuated switching action of the aforementioned type is desired.

FIG. 2 shows how two pressure switch controlling apparatuses a and 10b that are similar to the apparatus 10 that has already been set forth supra under the description of FIG. 1 can be constructed by using a unitary U- shaped body 12a in lieu of the construction shown in FIG. l.

Except as noted, all of the parts shown in FIG. 2 for each of the pressure switches 10a, 10b are the same as the parts described for the single pressure switch 10 described with regard to the embodiment shown in FIG. l and bear the same reference numerals thereof.

A flexible rectangular strip of material 82 is employed between the end plate 84 and the left end surface of the U-shaped body 12a. This single flexible strip 82 contains two convoluted portions 22a, 26a that are identical to the convolutions shown for the diaphragms 22 and 26 in FIG. 1.

A second similar flexible rectangular strip of material 86 is employed between the end plate 88 and the right end surface of the U-shaped body 12a. This single flexible strip 86 contains two convoluted portions 22b, 26h that are identical to the convolution shown for the diaphragms 22 and 26 in FIG. 1.

The regulated filtered air supply, F.A.S., is supplied by way of a passage 90 and/ or 92 to passageway 94 and the restrictions 58a, 58h that open into the nozzle chamber 60 of each pressure switch 10a, 10b.

The electric switch 68, shown at the right end of FIGS. 2 and 3 is retained in a stationary position by means of a screw connection 96 and lock nut 98 as shown on an extendible right end portion 100 of the end plate 88. A slotted wall portion 102 is formed on the end portion 100 to accommodate the adjustment of the button 66 of the switch 68 to a desired initial spaced-apart or in compressed engagement with the diaphragm plate 64.

In a similar manner to that just described, the electric switch 68 shown at the left end of the FIGS. 2 and 3 is retained in a stationary position by means of a screw connection 104 and a locking nut 106 as shown on an extensible left end portion 108 of the end plate 84. A slotted wall portion 110 is also formed in the right end portion 108 to accommodate the adjustment of the button 66 of the switch 68 into a desired initial spaced-apart or compressed engagement with the diaphragm plate 64.

It can thus be seen from the aforementioned description that the end plates 84, 100 shown in FIG. 2 are identical and interchangeable with one another.

FIG. 4 which shows a right end View of FIG. 3 discloses how two additional screw threaded connections 112, 114 passing through the end plate 88 are employed along with the previously-described connection 34 to retain a peripheral portion of the flexible strip 86 in fluid-tight engagement with the right side surface of the U-shaped body 12a as shown in FIG. 3.

Screw threaded connection 32 and two additional connections located in positions similar to those shown for connection 112 and 114 in FIG. 4 are employed to retain the flexible strip 82 in fluid-tight engagement with the right side surface of the U-shaped body 12a.

The left end of the amplifier shown in FIG. 5 has not been shown since it is of an identical construction as that shown for the amplifier shown in FIG. 1, previously described.

In the FIG. 5 embodiment of the invention, a conduit 116 and a fluid pressure actuated unit shown by way of illustration as an alarm connected to the right end of this conduit 116 is employed in place of the diaphragm 26, end plate 30 and end switch 68 shown in FIG. 1.

The fluid pressure in nozzle 60 that is shown in FIG. 5 can be applied by way of the conduit 116 to the alarm 118 to energize the alarm when the magnitude of the fluid pressure in the conduit 60 exceeds any one of a number of preselected setpoint pressures that will be determined by the control pressure being applied to the left end of the unit and the amount the spring 46 is compressed by the positioning of adjustable nut 52.

It can be seen from the aforementioned description that an adjustable fluid pressure amplifying apparatus has been disclosed that has an abnormally low hysteresis, or energy loss characteristic and which can, therefore, be advantageously deployed between a fluid control pressure and a fluid pressure actuated device such as an electric switch or alarm to effect a precise control of these devices when preselected changes in the magnitude of the fluid control pressure occur.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid amplifier, comprising a fluid supply conduit, a second conduit, a restricted passageway extending between the conduits, a nozzle forming one end of the second conduit for bleeding a fluid flowing from the fluid supply conduit to atmospheric pressure, a distensible member, a plate mounted on the distensible member for respective movement therewith toward and away from the nozzle and upon the application of an increase and decrease of the magnitude of an input fluid pressure signal to another opposite surface of the distensible member, the non-bleed end of the second conduit being sealed off by means of a second distensible member, the second distensible member being employed to convert changes in the magnitude of the fluid pressure occurring in the second conduit into a mechanical motion, an adjustable means threadedly connected to the external surface of the second conduit for longitudinal movement therealong, and an adjustable biasing means is positioned to extend between the plate and the adjustable means to apply a different preselected spring load force to the plate and the first distensible member associated therewith for each different position of the adjustable means on the external surface of the second conduit.

2. A fluid amplifier comprising a fluid supply conduit, a second conduit, a restricted passageway extending between the conduits, a nozzle forming one end of the second conduit for bleeding a fluid flowing from the fluid supply conduit to atmospheric pressure, a first diaphragm member, a plate mounted on the diaphragm member for respective movement therewith toward and away from the nozzle and upon the application of an increase and decrease of the magnitude of an input fluid pressure signal to another opposite surface of the diaphragm member, the non-bleed end of the second conduit being sealed off by means of a second diaphragm member, the second diaphragm member being employed to convert changes in the magnitude of the fluid pressure occurring in the second conduit into a mechanical motion, a nut is threadedly connected to the external surface of the second conduit for longitudinal movement therealong, and an adjustable biasing means positioned to extend between the plate and the nut to apply a different preselected spring load force to the plate and the first diaphragm member 5 6 associated therewith for each different position of the nut 2,982,902 5/1961 Le Gates 91*31 on the external surface of the second conduit. 3,125,109 3/ 1964 Krueter 137-82 3,181,547 5/1965 Bennett 137-82 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

2,844,158 7/1958 Carson 137-82 SAMUEL LEVINE, Examiner- 2,973,746 3/1961 Jupa 13785 X P. T. COBRIN, Assistant Examiner. 2,973,772 3/1961 Oglesby 137-82 

1. A FLUID AMPLIFIER, COMPRISING A FLUID SUPPLY CONDUIT, A SECOND CONDUIT, A RESTRICTED PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING BETWEEN THE CONDUITS, A NOZZLE FORMING ONE END OF THE SECOND CONDUIT FOR BLEEDING A FLUID FLOWING FROM THE FLUID SUPPLY CONDUIT TO ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, A DISTENSIBLE MEMBER, A PLATE MOUNTED ON THE DISTENSIBLE MEMBER FOR RESPECTIVE MOVEMENT THEREWITH TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE NOZZLE AND UPON THE APPLICATION OF AN INCREASE AND DECREASE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF AN INPUT FLUID PRESSURE SIGNAL TO ANOTHER OPPOSITE SURFACE OF THE DISTENSIBLE MEMBER, THE NON-BLEED END OF THE SECOND CONDUIT BEING SEALED OFF BY MEANS OF A SECOND DISTENSIBLE MEMBER, THE SECOND DISTENSIBLE MEMBER BEING EMPLOYED TO CONVERT CHANGES IN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE FLUID PRESSURE OCCURRING IN THE SECOND CONDUIT INTO A MECHNAICAL MOTION, AN ADJUSTABLE MEAND THREADEDLY CONNECTED TO THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF THE SECOND CONDUIT FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREALONG, AND AN ADJUSTABLE BIASING MEANS IS POSITIONED TO EXTEND BETWEEN THE PLATE AND THE ADJUSTABLE MEANS TO APPLY A DIFFERENT PRESELECTED SPRING LOAD FORCE TO THE PLATE AND THE FIRST DISTENSIBLE MEMBER ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EACH DIFFERENT POSITION OF THE ADJUSTABLE MEANS ON THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF THE SECOND CONDUIT. 